After eating dairy free for two years, I have put together a list of my favorite dairy free products. It isn’t easy to eat dairy free, but it can be enjoyable if you know what to buy.
My Favorite Dairy Free Products
Cheese
When you go dairy free, it doesn’t mean you’ll never eat cheese again. I enjoy a little sprinkle every day – they just aren’t sprinkles made from milk. Each cheese tastes a little bit different, but I prefer them all warm/hot. Here are my favorite dairy-free cheese alternatives.
Out of all the Daiya products, the Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds are my favorite. I love to put cheddar shreds in quesadillas or burritos,on top of an omelet, or mixed into a breakfast strata. The cheddar shreds taste a little bit like corn and melt really well. There are sliced versions of the cheddar as well that melt best inside a grilled cheese, but I am not a fan on a cold sandwich.
For my pizzas, I use Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds . I find that this cheese is sold out more often at my grocery store than the other types of Daiya products, so I stock up when I can. I only like to eat this cheese hot as well.
I feel like I should put a sign in my kitchen ‘Dairy Free Is The Way To Be” so I stop eating foods that hurt my belly.
Butter
I stopped using real butter after I found out Annabelle had a dairy allergy almost three years ago and never went back. Earth Balance Buttery Spread is my go-to for EVERYTHING. It tastes amazing, melts well, and there are even stick versions for baking. Thankfully most stores sell Earth Balance, so you don’t have to hunt around for it (Publix, Target, Sprouts).
A Few Dairy Free Snacks
This is the Ultimate List of Dairy Free Snacks and Where to Buy Them – but here are some of my favorite Dairy Free Snacks. When I was pregnant with Ailey, there were a few weeks I was absolutely addicted to Earth Balance White Cheddar Puffs. They are vegan, light, airy, and delicious. Unfortunately, I can only find these tasty puffs at Whole Foods and that’s not a store 5 minutes away, so I haven’t bought a bag in awhile.
My best friend introduced me to the world’s tastiest dairy free cookies by Lenny and Larry. There are a variety of flavors, but my favorite cookies are the Birthday Cake and Chocolate Chip. The cookies are chewy and really taste like they could be made with real butter.
If you have a Costco nearby, run, don’t walk, to buy a huge box of Nature’s Pantry Fig Bars. They are filling, scrumptious, and so good for you. We all eat these in our house for snacks on a daily basis – my favorite flavor is blueberry – and you can always find one or two in my diaper bag.
Another easy dairy free snack to grab on the go are LÄRABAR Original Fruit & Nut Bars. There are so many different flavors that it is hard to pick just one. Annabelle broke into my stash of Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and thought she found a gold mine. I don’t mind letting her eat chocolate chips since LÄRABAR Original Fruit & Nut Bars are far from junk food, vegan, and nutritious.
Saving the best for last… Just Cookie Dough is one of the most incredible finds I’ve ever stumbled across at Target. I can’t say that it’s the healthiest purchase I’ve ever made – and I also can’t say whether or not I’ve devoured an entire container in one day (that would be horrible of me wouldn’t it?). Since Just Cookie Dough is not nutritious, I have to hide it in the back of the fridge or Annabelle will snatch it out and eat the whole jar. It is THAT good.
Are you dairy free? What are some of your favorite dairy free products?
Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy ice cream for the win! Seriously I missed treats so much, and then my sister bought it and it’s amazing! Can’t even tell the difference. Try it!!